MY daily reflection and prayer:
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 9: 28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
THE Gospel reading today tells us that Jesus went up a mountain to pray. Again and again, the Gospel proclaims to us how important the life of prayer is, also for Jesus himself.
Also told us that while Jesus was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. There Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah about his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
What does it mean? When Jesus prayed, he did not think about the miracles he would perform, the comforts of this world, or the ambitions he might hold. He was not concerned with the opportunities, or his power, his name for himself. His prayer was also not his rest, relax or corfort zone.
Above all other things, in his prayer Jesus was speaking and thinking of the liberation of mankind from the slavery to sin. His only desire was his exodus to Jerusalem. It was his suffering and death and departure from this world to glorify his Father, fulfilling his will by saving mankind.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while adoring Jesus Christ we learn to pray like him. We do not thinking of our ambitions, desires, hopes, comfort, or self-fulfillment. There we ask him true liberation from the slavery of egoism. Surely, the fruits of dying to self in this way are joy, peace, love and eternal life.Do we choose to subordinate all these possibilities to the love of Jesus? Are we ready to give up any of these goods for love of Christ?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we love you, even though we are not always able to offer you the best. Free our heart from every selfish aspect of our love. Help us make that generous step of “dying to self” in this way. Lead us to true freedom and joy in our heart and to a greater capacity of true self-giving now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
